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Home My WebLink About770751.tiff RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS eaves en rIAT1 MINUTES WELD COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT STUDY COMMITTEE i3RaELEv. coLo. October 19, 1977 The Weld County Home Rule Charter Amendment Study Committee met in regular session in the Third Floor Meeting Room of the Weld County Centennial Center, Greeley, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 19, 1977, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gordon Lacy, and on roll call , the following members were present, constituting a quorum of the members thereof: Gordon Lacy, Chairman Helen Norton Verdie Peddycord, Vice-Chairman Barbara Sloan William Butler Blair Macy Wayne Brown. Absent: Dick Boettcher and John Kunzman ALSO PRESENT: County Attorney, Thomas 0. David, Assistant County Attorney, P. Kay Norton, members of the Press, members of the League of Women's Voters and Secre- taries Cathy Carter and Sandy Moorhouse. MINUTES APPROVED: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the September 21 , 1977 meeting. There being no additions or corrections to said minutes, the motion passed. The meeting started with general discussion of the Committee's opinions of the September 21 , 1977 meeting when the original Home Rule Charter committee members were invited to attend. There were differing opinions among the group, some feeling that the Home Rule Charter had not been completely implemented yet and that it should be given a chance to work longer before amendments were made. Others felt the necessary changes were few in number. Wayne Brown urged a far more active role for the Study Committee including at- tendance as often as possible at County Commissioner and County Council meetings. Brown argued that only in this way could the committee practically compare the written standards of the Charter to the reality of day-to-day County government operations. There was disagreements among the panel with Brown's remarks. Article III. , Section 3-8(4)(b) The panel then discussed the repeal of county contracting as an action which must be done by ordinance. Tom David pointed out that as the Charter now reads, the Commissioners now are consciously violating that part of the Charter due to the work load and time required to enact every county contract by ordinance. It was agreed by all that until the Committee reaches the point where they will hire their own attorney for advice and comments, it would be appreciated if the County Attorney's office would prepare a sample of a revised Section 3-8(4) of the Charter concerning contracts. It was agreed this would be included with the next mailing to Committee members. (See Attached Memorandum from P. Kay Norton, Assistant County Attorney. ) It was further proposed that the public should still be allowed comment or reaction on any pending contracting by the Commissioners, and, there- fore, a suggestion was made to place a dollar limit for contracts beyond which ordinance processes still might be required or, a time-delay before contracts of certain sizes could be completed by the Commissioners The next area of concern deals with Article III , Board of County Commissioners, Section 4, Terms of Office. There was only general discussion in this area, but was decided definitely that this is an area to consider for amendment. The panel was in agreeance to invite county department heads to make written and/or oral comments on the Charter on a voluntary basis only. It was suggested that the public and citizen groups such as the League of Women Voters could also be of hoip. 770751 Nn RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves F0RM.p C.E. W CCNEL 0.B.B L.CJ. Page 2 October 19, 1977 Article V. Department of Law, Section 5-2, Qualifications. It wasagreed that the wording in Section 5-2 should definitely be changed to avoid future mis- understanding. Article IV, Departments of County Government, Section 4-2, Department of Finance, Central Purchasing and Personnel , (B)(2) (f) . Wayne Brown pointed out his con- cerns regarding employees not being able to involve themselves in political activity during working hours. He feels strongly that this area needs to allow more protection to the employees and stressed that consideration be taken here. Article XIII, County Council . As has been determined at prior meetings , there are questions about this area. Gordon Lacy indicated that the panel should really look hard at what is in the Charter here. It might be wise, Lacy said, to receive individual specific points from each Committee member. It was noted that in this area, the panel is still in a fact-finding stage. Gordon Lacy did make one final statement regarding Wayne Brown's aforementioned comment about the Committee taking a more active role in Commissioner meetings, etc. Lacy suggested members give thought to the suggestion from Wayne Brown. He said discussion and a decision could come at the November 16, 1977 meeting. There being no further business to discuss, Gordon Lacy noted that the next meeting would be on November 16, 1977 at 7:00 p.m. in the Third Floor Meeting Room of the Centennial Center. It was decided that things were going along as scheduled and that the once-a-month meetings would continue for the time being. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. APPROVED: WELD COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT STUDY COMMITTEE Chairman (/�� ice-Chairman N9 2 Hello